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Order out of chaos
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geranium72
Posts: 463 Forumite
Well I decided it was time to do a diary after reading and getting so much inspiration from everyone else.
My diary is about 2 things - getting rid of the debt and organising my house - which could easily feature on one of those TV programmes - Life Laundry or similar.
About me - married with dog and 2 cats. We earn decent money but due to lots of consolidating loans and running up more debt - owe a lot. In total last year we owed nearly £100k - eeeek.At the moment - it stands around £94k. This mainly comes from living way beyond our means - and "sticking it on the credit card" but never paying it off. I know that sounds horrendous - and it is - but we do have enough income (just) to manage that.
I had a terrible attitude - having been in debt since being a student 18 years ago - that "as long as I can afford the minimum repayment - I'll be ok.
I have been trying - but being a bit half hearted over the last year but have decided I really need to get a grip. Am going to join some challenges this month and from now start a spending diary.
I have a very good grip on our budget, I know exactly how much we have coming in, and due to regular and well paid overtime we can meet the outgoings and hopefully this year start paying over and above mimimums. My first main target is in 2 years time - a major loan is finished and then things become much easier - with more money to throw at the rest of the debts.
I think last year when I realised we have no more free space, no available 0% deals and card interest rates were going up, that I needed to deal with this . At the moment, every time a card provider says that are putting the interest rate up further I am closing the account, and it is very satisfying to see balances actually reduce - and of course the fact I can't spend any more is a good thing!
I think we can be totally debt free (apart from the mortgage) in 2014 - but am aiming for sooner than that. It could be vastly sooner but I do think we need the odd night out, and we still have football season tickets. I suppose the good news is this year, instead of putting them on credit cards we actuallyy paid for them in 4 months in advance -I am learning!
I won't post an SOA as I know the things that people would say cut down on - like Sky - etc - but I am prepared to have a slightly longer journey ands till have some enjoyment on the way.
This weekend I started on the "sorting the chaos in the house" by freecycling some furniture from friends and organising and cleaning the kitchen - still got some cupboards to do but it looks so much nicer.
So anyway, - my aims for August
Join the following challenges - ebay, no spend days, cutting down alcohol, making £10 a day.
Start a spending diary.
Get some more of the house sorted.
Go back to slice the pie, dooyoo and survey sites.
Thanks for reading and update you all soon.
:beer:
My diary is about 2 things - getting rid of the debt and organising my house - which could easily feature on one of those TV programmes - Life Laundry or similar.
About me - married with dog and 2 cats. We earn decent money but due to lots of consolidating loans and running up more debt - owe a lot. In total last year we owed nearly £100k - eeeek.At the moment - it stands around £94k. This mainly comes from living way beyond our means - and "sticking it on the credit card" but never paying it off. I know that sounds horrendous - and it is - but we do have enough income (just) to manage that.
I had a terrible attitude - having been in debt since being a student 18 years ago - that "as long as I can afford the minimum repayment - I'll be ok.
I have been trying - but being a bit half hearted over the last year but have decided I really need to get a grip. Am going to join some challenges this month and from now start a spending diary.
I have a very good grip on our budget, I know exactly how much we have coming in, and due to regular and well paid overtime we can meet the outgoings and hopefully this year start paying over and above mimimums. My first main target is in 2 years time - a major loan is finished and then things become much easier - with more money to throw at the rest of the debts.
I think last year when I realised we have no more free space, no available 0% deals and card interest rates were going up, that I needed to deal with this . At the moment, every time a card provider says that are putting the interest rate up further I am closing the account, and it is very satisfying to see balances actually reduce - and of course the fact I can't spend any more is a good thing!
I think we can be totally debt free (apart from the mortgage) in 2014 - but am aiming for sooner than that. It could be vastly sooner but I do think we need the odd night out, and we still have football season tickets. I suppose the good news is this year, instead of putting them on credit cards we actuallyy paid for them in 4 months in advance -I am learning!
I won't post an SOA as I know the things that people would say cut down on - like Sky - etc - but I am prepared to have a slightly longer journey ands till have some enjoyment on the way.
This weekend I started on the "sorting the chaos in the house" by freecycling some furniture from friends and organising and cleaning the kitchen - still got some cupboards to do but it looks so much nicer.
So anyway, - my aims for August
Join the following challenges - ebay, no spend days, cutting down alcohol, making £10 a day.
Start a spending diary.
Get some more of the house sorted.
Go back to slice the pie, dooyoo and survey sites.
Thanks for reading and update you all soon.
:beer:
Back to comping! July wins: Frylight August wins: Pixar DVD, Diesel Watch,£75 hamper brioche products September wins bath soak
Thanks to everyone who posts comps and help :beer:
Thanks to everyone who posts comps and help :beer:
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Comments
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Welcome to diaryland and from one Life Laundry wannabe to another, I hope you have more success in decluttering than I do!!!Successful women can still have their feet on the ground. They just wear better shoes. (Maud Van de Venne)Life begins at the end of your comfort zone (Neale Donald Walsch)0
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Thanks hypno - you have been a massive insipration - both in terms of massive debt repayment and decluttering - I can only hope to emulate you !!!Back to comping! July wins: Frylight August wins: Pixar DVD, Diesel Watch,£75 hamper brioche products September wins bath soak
Thanks to everyone who posts comps and help :beer:0 -
debt repayment maybe - decluttering, I am still very much work in progress!! However much I try, and however much I do, there always seems to be a long long way to go!!Successful women can still have their feet on the ground. They just wear better shoes. (Maud Van de Venne)Life begins at the end of your comfort zone (Neale Donald Walsch)0
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Hi Geranium
Great post, can relate in many ways. Should see you on many a challenge as I too have at last recognised my half heartedness.
Am at the moment trying to slice the pie and dooyoo at the same time !
Look forward to your journey.DC.
"Some people walk in the rain... others just get wet... " - Roger Miller0 -
Yesterday was a no spend day - which was good and I got a significant amount of writing done (am working at home this week). Made a nice risotto using up bits and pieces out of the ridge - I am also on a mission to throw away a lot less food and do want to get a composter and water butt for the garden - that may have to wait until next month.
Kept the kitchen relatively clean and got some washing done - rest of the house still chaos!
Went back on one poll and did a couple of 10p surveys - my current balance is £12.30 so will be nice to get nearer to a payment.
Have had a £5 amazon voucher redeem on bingoport this week (i'm treasure99 on there if anyone else goes on!)
Had a very interesting conversation with BT when I rang to confirm I didn't want to stay on theri 12 month contract
Me - Just wanted to let you know we are not renewing
Him - oh - why is that
Me - Basically we can get a cheaper all in one phone and unlimited broadband package
Him - that's just because on thes unlimited packages they can't be bothered to work out what you actually need
Me - but that's good isn't it
Him - no, it's not a complete package
Me - how is unlimited, ie as much as I like, not a complete package
Him - it isn't - we can do it for £32
Me - but theirs is £25
Him - yes but it isn't as good
Me - well thanks but I think it fine for me (and £7 less)
Did make me chuckle!!
Aims for today - we are meeting an old friend later - so aim to go to a cheap pub where wine is £4.95 a bottle - not a glass!
Have lots more work to do - so with all that probably won't get a lot more done
Must gear myself up for ebaying some stuff and really need to get back into Dooyoo reviews.
Have a good day allBack to comping! July wins: Frylight August wins: Pixar DVD, Diesel Watch,£75 hamper brioche products September wins bath soak
Thanks to everyone who posts comps and help :beer:0 -
welcome to the boards and well done on putting a toe in the water. I think a lot of us are trying to declutter along our road to debt freedom. Ebay and car boots are good at getting rid of things, i'm taking things to car boots that for years i would have just put in charity bags to get rid of them.
Have a look on the old style board and see if you can reduce your groceries, i hope i'm not assuming incorrectly but i know most of us have been guilty of spending too much on groceries and have been able to cut them back.
have fun here and continue to post.0 -
Today is the last day of July - and I am all geared up for several challenges .
Today I need to get a stack of work done but will also do some decluttering - bathroom and at least one kitchen cupboard
I am going to make a very MSE veggie curry tonight and have some rhubarb to stew up to have with yogurt (would like to do crumble but am also trying to do slimming world)
Also need to gear myself up to do some ebaying and am going to try and do one dooyoo review a dayBack to comping! July wins: Frylight August wins: Pixar DVD, Diesel Watch,£75 hamper brioche products September wins bath soak
Thanks to everyone who posts comps and help :beer:0 -
Good luck with your various challenges in August!Successful women can still have their feet on the ground. They just wear better shoes. (Maud Van de Venne)Life begins at the end of your comfort zone (Neale Donald Walsch)0
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Morning Geranium
Am with you on attempting one dooyoo a day, it is time consuming. Don't think I've found you on there yet.
Curry sounds good...DC.
"Some people walk in the rain... others just get wet... " - Roger Miller0 -
Hi Geranium,
Just been catching up on your diary. I think i will be following you around for a while as we seem to have lots in common/:T
Good luck with everything.
40SM0
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